4 out of 10 parents do not distinguish between a mood aftermath and the onset of depression

Understanding teenagers is a challenge for parents around the world, and detecting the signs that they are doing poorly is even more so. When it comes to spotting signs that their child may be slipping into depression, around 40% of parents overestimate their ability to tell the difference between teenage mood swings and a much more serious condition. serious. This surveyconducted by researchers at the University of Michigan (United States), demonstrates the difficulty that some parents may have in deciphering the emotions of their offspring.

The study was conducted as part of the National Children’s Health Survey by the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital. Although most parents are convinced they recognize the signs of depression in their teens, the results show that around 40% are wrong and cannot understand exactly when their teen is experiencing a classic mood swing or the onset of depression. .

hidden feelings

“While 30% say their child hides their feelings well, in many families, pre-adolescence and adolescence bring about dramatic changes in both young people’s behavior and parent-child dynamics,” says Sarah Clark, survey co-director. These transitions can make reading about the emotional state of children and the possibility of depression particularly difficult.”

The survey, based on responses from 819 parents with at least one child in middle or high school, highlights that an overconfident parent believes they can recognize signs of depression in their child when they are unable to actually detect it. Through this survey, the team found that the subject of depression was familiar to middle and high school students. One in four parents confirmed that their child knew a classmate with depression and one in ten knew someone who had committed suicide.

According to data available from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of young people aged 10 to 24 who commit suicide rose to 56% between 2007 and 2017. These alarming figures are in line with the observations of Sarah Clark and his team: “Our report reinforces that depression is not an abstract concept for today’s teens and pre-teens”. She believes that the growing number of suicides in the United States calls for understanding and recognition of depression in young people.

Become a trustworthy adult for your child

During the study, parents were asked to rate their own listening skills, which showed that they were not very confident about their ability to recognize signs of depression in pre-teens or teens.

Sarah Clark has warned that parents should increase their level of awareness when trying to spot signs of potential depression in teens. Some signs may manifest as sadness accompanied by isolation, anger, irritability and restlessness. Additionally, she suggests that parents open up to their children, so that they can identify with her as a trusted adult, who can be a reliable source if the children do not feel up to their abilities.

Many parents who participated in the survey highlighted the important role schools can play in identifying signs of depression. Seven out of ten parents even support that screening for depression should start in middle and high schools. Sarah Clark says that while this is a positive sign, the fact that many schools lack the resources to screen children is a cause for concern that should be addressed. “If parents speak up about whether their child’s school screens for depression and offers support and counselling, they can start productive discussions with school counselors and administrators to convince them to take such steps. , informing them of the importance of offering mental health services in schools.”